Keep the fishery closed?? Think about it, if this fishery is not opened to sporties, why keep the hatchery running. They've operated this hatchery for years, but have never had a fishery. The only beneficiaries are the intercept commercial and recreational fisheries in the sound or further out. This is in no way a trade for restricting the C&R fishery this year. Its about numbers of surplus hatchery fish that are finally 100 percent clipped.

If there is no recreational fishery in the Sky, then the hatchery should be shut down, used to raise other species (like steelhead?!!), or used to collect ESA chinook for brood stock to increase the wild fish numbers.

The place will be a zoo for the first week or so, until the fish get lockjawed, then the pressure will let up. Most of the pressure will be concentrated in the deep pooly water near the mouth of the Wallace, also down by the Sultan. Away from this area, there shouldn't be too much disruption to the summer steelhead fishery. I usually fish high during June and July, but will probably drop down to fish some of the deep pools between the Wallace and Sultan if they open it.

If they've achieved 100 percent clipped fins, they should open it for the surplus that the hatchery doesn't need. Enforcement should also put the area between the Wallace and Sultan on their radar scopes to make sure any non-clipped fish get put back and keep the snaggers at bay (sort of keep them at bay anyway). Last year, enforcement in this area, during this time period was actually pretty good.

Vic had good point about tribal nets. I'd always heard that one of the reasons it was never opened was because, if opened for sporties, there would have to be a 50 percent quota for the tribes, which would lead to unnacceptable interceptions of wild ESA fish. Anyone have a take on this issue?